Door latch structure



June 21, 1938. H. J. MURPHY 2,121,531

I DOOR LATCH STRUCTURE Filed May 15, 1936 @y aux@ fw Patented June 21,1938L PATENT OFFICE DOOR. LATCH STRUCTURE Howard J. Murphy, Greenwood,Mass., assignor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Application May 15, 1936, Serial No.'79,843

11 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved latching device for use with a dooror similar structure and installations of the same.

One object of my invention is to provide a latching device of simple andinexpensive construction capable of being quickly and easily installedWith a door or the like part and having a latch means adapted to snapunder the action of a spring into a recess or aperture formed in anabutment, the device being so arranged that the latch means may bedisengaged from the abutment for opening the door by longitudinal forceexerted upon either of the free ends of an elongated member, the ends ofwhich project beyond opposite faces of the part with which the latchingdevice is assembled.

Another-'object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivemeans whereby my irnproved latching device may be locked by a personpositioned on one side of the door thereby preventing unlocking of thelatching device from the other side of the door. Other objects willappear from the following description.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of myinvention:-

Figure l is a front View of my latching installation including a door, alatching device. assembled with the door and handle means for operatingsaid latching device;

Fig. 2 is aside view of the installation shown in Fig. 1 with my latchcasing shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2 showing myimproved locking means in unlocked position;

Fig. 4 is a section similar to that of Fig. 3 With my locking means inlocked position;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing themanner by which my locking means is operated;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on' the line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a section similar to that of Fig. 5 but with mylatch-actuating member moved to the right;

Fig. 8 is a 4plan view of my tubular latch-actuating member;

' Fig. 9 is a plan view of my sleeve part disposed structures, alatching device 2 assembled with said door and handles 3 and 4 disposedon opposite faces ofthe door having one end secured to a respective faceof the door by `means of a screw or suitable attaching means 5, and theother end attached to respective opposite ends of a latch-actuatingmember 6 so that force upon either of the handles 3.and 4 is transmittedto the member '6 in a manner which will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. Although I have preferred to illustrate my invention used inconnection with a door or similar part of a building structure, it isunderstood that I d onot wish to limit the use of my latching device tothat specic installation because it is capable of satisfactory operationwith many other installations.

Referring in detail to the component parts of my installation, the doori is provided with a round hole 'l (Figs. 3 and 4) extending into thebody of the door from the surface of `that edge of the door facing theabutment when the door is in closed position. A smaller hole 8 extendsthrough the door in right-angular relation to the hole l and intersectsthe same at a predetermined point. A cylindrical casing 9, preferablymade of one piece of sheet metal and having a crosssectional arearelatively less than that of the hole l, is disposed within the hole 1and the tubular member 6 extends through the hole- 8 in a way tointersect the casing 9 (Figs. 3-7).

The casing 9 has a closed end I0 substantially adjacent to the inner endof the hole 1 and an open end in close proximity to that surface of thedoor facing the abutment. A cap I l is aixed to the open end of thecasing 9 and is preferably seated Within a recess l2 formed in thematerial of the door l adjacent to the aperture 'l at the free edge ofthe door. The casing 9 has a pair of apertures i3 and I4 disposed inopposite sides of the casing and in alignment with the aperture 8 of thedoor so that the tubular 4member 6 may be extended from one side of thedoor through the aperture 8 and the apertures i3 and IB of the casing 9.In normal position the member 6 is in intersecting relation to thecasing 9 with the free ends of the member 6 disposed outside therespective faces of the door l, as shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4.

The tubular member 6, as most clearly illustrated in Figs..3-8, isprovided with slots I5 and I6I disposed on opposite sides of the member5 and in alignment with each other. The slots are positioned relative tothe free ends of the member '6 so that portions thereof are normallylocated within the casing 9, as shown in Figs. 3

I9 adjacent the slot I5, as most clearly shown in l Fig. 8. Asubstantially square aperture 20 is provided at one end of the member 6in intermediate position relative to the slots I5 and IB (Figs. 5 7)-and an aperture 2l is provided at the other end in line with theaperture 29. Purposes of the apertures 20 and2I will be hereinafter morefully described.

The parts of my latching device positioned within the casing 9 include alatch member -22 adapted to slide'longitudinally relative-to the casing9 and a coil spring 23. Referring in more detail to `my preferredslidable member 22, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and`10, I have shown aone-piece part formed from a sheet metal blank having a beveled nose 24at one end, a cam portion 25 at the other end and an intermediateconnecting portion 26. The cam portion 25 and part of the intermediateportion 26 are formed by bending the blank along its center line so thatthe materials on opposite sides of the center line are finally disposedin adjacent face-toface relationship. The folded portions of theslidable member are of a thickness which is relatively less than thewidth of the slots I5 and I6 so that they may freely pass through theslots. The beveled nose 24 is formed at the other end of the blank fromthe cam portion 25 by providing 'upstanding spaced side walls 21 (Fig.10) with the free edges of the side walls at one end extending inangular relation to the plane of the blank and the material 28 (Figs. 3and 4) adjacent to an end of the blank is bent back in adjacentrelationship to the slanting edges of the side walls. The cam portion 25is substantially in the form'of a triangle with its base a continuationof 'the bottom edge of the connecting portion 26. A rear wall 29 extendsat right angles to the base surface and a cam surface 30 connects therear wall 29 with a stop means 3I (Figs. 3 and 4) raised slightly abovethe top of the connecting portion 26. A notch 32 extends from the bottomedge of the triangle toward the cam surface 39. In normal position ofthe latch member, the stop means 3i, the cam surface 39 and notch 32 aredisposed within the tubular member 6, asshown in Figs. 3 and 4. In myvpreferred form the material 33 at the vertex of the triangular-shapedcam portion is constructed and arranged to lie outside the tubularmember 6 and engage the outside surface of the material of the member 6adjacent to an end of the slot I6 when the slide member is in normalposition,

, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

soy

The spring 23 has its base disposed substantially adjacent to the closedend II) of the casing and its other end normally in slight springcontact with the rear wall 29 of the cam portion 25 thereby maintainingthe material 33 at the vertex of the triangular-shaped cam portion inengagement with the outer surface of the tubular member 6. The spring 23may be held in proper position within the casing 9 by providing a baseof such diameter as to engage frictionally the walls of the casing.

In order that unlatching of-my "devicefrom at least one side of the doormay intentionally. be prevented, I have provided a hollow sleeve'member34 adapted to fit within one end of the tubular member 6 and slidelongitudinally thereof. The

preferred form of my sleeve member 34, as best y jacent to the outside4edge of the door.

shown in Fig. 9, has a closed end 35 and an open end 36. A pair ofoppositely disposed slits 31 extends from the open end into the body ofthe sleeve to give resiliency to a portion of the sleeve so that it mayhave a slight spring engagement with the inside surface of the member 6so as to prevent too free longitudinal movement relative to the member.A slot 38 is cut into the open end of the sleeve and adapted `toencompass the slidable member when the sleeve is in clogging polsition;'I'he material 39 adjacent to the open end and directly opposite theslot 38 is adapted to engage with the notch 32 of the slidable member 22so as to dog the latter member against longitudinal movement relative tothe casing. A square aperture 49 is provided near the closed end 35 ofthe sleeve member 34 and positioned in intermediate relation to the.slot 38 and the engaging material 39 of the open end. The aperture 40 isadapted to align with the aperture 26 of the tubular member when theparts are in normal position, and at the same time the closed end 35projects beyond the free end of the tubular member, as shown in Fig. 5.

In assembling the parts of my device, the holes 1 and 8 are first boredat proper positions in the door I. The casing 9 containing the spring 23is then inserted longitudinally into the hole 1 so that in finalposition the 'apertures I3 and I4 are in alignment with the aperture 8of the door and the cap II is seated within the recess I2 ad- In mypreferred form, the casing 9 is held in secure position within theaperture 1 by frictional engagement between the outside surface of thecasing and the material of the door surrounding the aperture 1, but I amfully aware that prongs or projections, which I have not shown, may beprovided integral with the casing 9 or the cap II for the purpose ofbiting into the material of the door adjacent to the aperture 1 to aidin securing the casing 9 within the aperture.

In the next step of the assembling process that end of the tubularmember 6 carrying the sleev'er 6 are in alignment with the bore of thecasing.

9. The latch member 22 is now assembled within the casing by passing thecam portion 25 diagonally through a square aperture 4I in the face ofthe cap II and then turning thev cam portion so as to pass it throughthe slots I5 and I6 of the member 6. The spring portion I8 of thetubular member is next contracted bypressing thereupon with a suitabletool so as to allow the projection I9 to pass through the aperture I3"ofthe casing. After the projection I9 has been passed through the apertureI3 it expands to normal position so as to engage the inside surface ofthe casing 9 for preventing Withdrawal of the tubular member from thedirection in which it was inserted. Atthe same time that the projectionI9 is passed into the casing 9 the material 33 at the vertex of the camportion 25 is moved into engagement with the outside surface of thetubular member 6 adjacent to the slot I6 and is held-there by pressureof the spring 23 upon the rear wail 29 of the caniportion 25 so as toprevent Withdrawal ofthe latch member 'from the xed within the, casing.the beveled ynose 'ibextends through the apertureai ofthe cap-ti forsnapping engagement under the action of the spring 23 with a cooperatingrecess of an abutment (not shown).

As a final step the handles 3 and 4 are assembled with the installation.Each of the handles 3 and 4 of my preferred form are provided withanapertured plate 42 at one end and a hook-like projection 43 at theother end. 'I'he handles 3 and 4 are secured to opposite faces of thedoor by means of the screws 5 which extend through apertures of therespective end plates 42 into the material of the door, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The projection 43 at the opposite end of the handle 3from the plate 42 is sprung into the aperture 2| at one end of thetubular member B and the projection 43 at the end of the handle 4 issprung through the aperture 20 at the other end of the tubular,member,and the aperture 40 of the sleevemember 34 is normally inalignment therewith. 'I'he natural rigidity in the handles 3 and 4prevent the projections 43 at the ends of the respective handles fromslipping out of the tubular member 6 in the direction from which theywere inserted.

The beveled nose 24 of my latching device may be released from latchingengagement with the cooperating aperture ofthe abutment by respectivepush or pull force upon the handles 3 and 4. Force exerted upon thehandle 3 toward the door I moves the material of the handle adjacent tothe projection 43 against the material of the tubular member 6 adjacentto the aperture 2i substantially as shown in Fig. 7 thereby moving thetubular member so that the material thereof adjacent to an end of theslot i6 engages the cam surface 30 of the latch member 22 so as to forcethe latch member against the action of the coil spring 23. While theforce is being applied, the material of the tubular member engages thecam surface 30 so as to move the slidable member 22 longitudinally ofthe casing until the aforementioned material reaches the stop means 3i,at which time the beveled nose 24 has been drawn within the casing 9 soas to permit unlatching. Force exerted upon the handle 4 away from thedoor l serves to move the beveled nose out of latching position byexactly the same mechanical action described in connection with theforce exerted in an opposite direction upon the handle 3. After theforce upon either the handles 3 or 4 has been released the beveled nose24 snaps into latching position under the action of the coil spring 23:

My latching device may be easily locked from that side at which thehandle 4 is attached by pressing with one of the lingers upon the closedend 35 of the sleeve member 34, as shown in Fig. Ei,

so as to move the material 39, adjacent to the open end of the sleeve,into the notch 32 of the cam portion 25, as most clearly shown in Fig.4. At the same time the slot 38 adjacent to the open end of the sleevets around the material of the slidable member 20 (Fig. 4). When thesleeve means is in dogging position, it is impossible to move theslidable member 20 for unlatching the beveled nose 24 by force exertedupon the handle 3 in the direction of the door'due to the fact that thematerial 39 of the sleeve, in engagement with the slot 38, prevents theslidable member from moving longitudinally relative to the casing 9. Itwill be noticed from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 6 that when the sleevemember 34 is in dogging position the aperture 40 is out of alignmentwith the aperture 20 of the tubular member 8 with the result that ifforce is exerted upon the handle 4 in a direction away from the door I.the material of the handle 4 adjacent to the projection 43 engages thematerial of the sleeve 34 adjacent to the aperture 40 so as to move thesleeve member out of dogging position, and as force upon the handle 4 iscontinued the beveled nose 24 may be moved out of latching position foropening the door'. As a result of my invention it is possible to releasethe dogging means by the same force which'is exerted upon the handle formoving the slidable member out of latching position to open the door.

I have provided by my invention a simple andv inexpensive latchingdevice which may be made for the most part out of sheet metal and whichmay be assembled with a door or the like part by simply boring two roundholes of varied sizes in the door in the manner which has beendescribed. The manner in which my latching device is assembled with adoor, as by inserting it in quickly bored holes, is a great improvementover ordinary methods which require a great deal of cutting upon thedoor inorder to prepare a seat for the latching device.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred form of myinvention, I do not 'wish to be limited thereby because the scope of myinvention is best defined by' the following claims.

I claim:

1. A latching device comprising an apertured cylindrical casing part, an'elongated tubular member extending transversely through said casinghaving means preventing withdrawal thereof, said tubular member havingslots on opposite sides thereof in alignment with the bore of saidcasing, a spring-actuated slidable bolt member disposed within saidcasing and extending through the slots oi. saidrtubular member, saidbolt member having a latch means at one end normally extending from saidcasing and a cam portion at the other end, said cam portion having a camsurface disposed within said tubular member, and a portion of thematerial of said tubular member adjacent at least one of said slotsadapted to engage said cam surface when force is applied longitudinallyof said tubular member thereby moving said bolt member against theaction of said spring for disengaging said latch from a cooperatingrecess of another part.

through said casing, a slidable bolt member disand a portion of thematerial of said tubular member adapted to engage said cam surface whenforce is applied longitudinally of said tubular member thereby movingsaid bolt member against the action of said spring for disengaging saidlatch from a cooperating recess of another part.

3. A latching device 'comprising an apertured cylindrical casing parthaving a closed end, an

elongated tubular member extending transversely through said casing,said tubular member having slots on opposite sides thereof in alignmentwith the bore of said casing, a slidable bolt member disposed withinsaid casing and lextending through the slots of said tubular member,said bolt member having alatch means at one end normally extending fromsaid casing and a cam portion at the other end, a spring positionedwithin said casing between said cam portion and the closed end of saidcasing, said cam portion hav.- ing a cam surface disposed within saidtubular member, and a portion of the material of said tubular memberadjacent at least one of said slots adapted to engage said cam surfacewhen force is applied longitudinally of said tubular member therebymoving saidbolt member against the action of said spring for disengagingsaid latch from a cooperating recess of another part.

4. A latching device comprising a. cylindrical casing part havingaligned apertures on opposed longitudinal sides thereof, an elongatedtubular member extending through said apertures and finally positionedin transverse relation to said casing, said tubular member having aspring means engaging the inner surface of said casing adjacent to oneof said apertures preventing withdrawal of said member in the directionfrom which it was inserted, a spring-actuated slidable bolt memberdisposed within said casing and extending through said tubular member,said bolt member having a latch means at one end normally disposedoutside said casing and a cam portion at the other end having a camsurface, said tubular member having means engaging said cam surface whenforce is applied longitudinally of said tubular member thereby movingsaid bolt Y member against the action of said spring for disengagingsaid latch from a cooperating recess of another part.

5. A latching device comprising a cylindrical casing part, an elongatedtubular member extending transversely through said casing, aspringactuated slidable bolt member disposed within said casing andextending through said tubular member, said bolt member having a latchmeans at one end normally disposed outside said casing and a cam portionat the other end, said cam portion having a cam esurface and a notchnormally disposed within said .tubular member, said tubular memberhaving means engaging said cam surface when force is appliedlongitudinally of said tubular member thereby moving said bolt memberagainst the action of said spring for disengaging said latch from acooperating recess of another part, and said tubular member having adogging means associated therewith adapted to engage with the notch ofsaid cam portion for intentionally preventing movement of said boltmember when force is exerted on at least one end of said tubular member.

6. A latching device comprising a cylindrical casing part, an elongatedtubular member extending transversely through said casing, a sleevemember disposed within said tubular member and extending part way alongthe length thereof, a spring-actuated slidable bolt member disposedwithin said casing extending through said tubular member, said boltmember having latch means at one end normally disposed outside saidcasing and a cam portion at the other end, said cam portion 'having acam surface and a notch, said cam surface and said notch normallydisposed Within said tubular member, said tubular member having meansengaging said cam surface when force is applied longitudinally of saidtubular member thereby moving said bolt member against the action ofsaid spring for disengaging said latch means .from a cooperating recessof another part and said sleeve adapted. to be moved longitudinally ofsaid tubular member whereby a portion of said sleeve engages with thenotch of said cam portion for intentionally preventing movement of saidbolt member when force is exerted on at least one end of said tubularmember.

7. A latching device comprising a cylindrical casing part, an elongatedtubular member extending transversely through said casing, saidtubular'member having slots on opposite sides thereof in alignment withthe bore of said casing, a sleeve located within one end of said tubularmember and extending part way along the length thereof, aspring-actuated slidable bolt member disposed within said casing andextending through the slots of said tubular member, said bolt memberhaving a latch means at one end @normally extending outside said casingand a cam portion at the other end, said cam portion having a camsurface normally aligned with the material of said tubular memberadjacent said slots and a notch normally aligned with a portion of saidsleeve, a portion of the material of said tubular member adjacent one ofsaid slots adapted to engage said cam surface when force is appliedlongitudinally of said tubular member thereby moving said bolt memberagainst the action of said spring for disengaging said latch from acooperating recess of another part and said sleeve having means wherebyit maybe moved longitudinally of said tubular member whereby a portionof said sleeve is engaged with the notch of said cam portion forintentionally preventingJ movement of said bolt member when force isexerted on at least one end of said tubular member.

8. A latching device comprising a cylindrical casing part having oneclosed end, an elongated tubular member extending transversely throughsaid casing, said tubular member having slots on opposite sides thereofin alignment with the bore of said casing, a sleeve located within oneend of said tubular member and extending part way alonglthe lengththereof, a portion of said sleeve having longitudinal slots thereinproviding spring arms engaging the inner surface of said tubular memberand a portion at one end normally extending outside said tubular member,a slidable bolt member disposed Within said casing and extending throughthe slots of said tubular member, said bolt member having a latch meansat one end normally extending outside said casing and a cam portion vatthe other end, a spring means positioned within said casing between saidcam portion and the closed end of said casing, said cam portion having acam surface, and a notch formed therein, said cam surface and said notchnormally located within said tubular member, a portion of the materialof said tubular member adjacent one of said slots adapted to engage saidcam surface when pressure is applied longitudinally of said tubularmember thereby moving said bolt member against the action of said springfor disengaging said latch from a cooperating recess of another part andsaid sleeve adapted to be forced longitudinally of said tubular memberwherebya portion of said sleeve engages with the notch of said cam por-`tion for intentionally preventing movement of said bolt member whenforce is exerted on at least one end'of said tubular member.

9. A latching device comprising a cylindrical casing part, an elongatedtubular member ex- .tending transversely through said casing, a

spring-actuated slidable bolt member disposed within said casing, saidbolt member having a latch means at one end and a cam portion at theother end havingA a cam surface normallv located within said tubularmember, -a portion of the material of said cam portion normally inengagement with the material of said tubular member for limiting in onedirection longitudinal movement of said bolt member relative to saidcasing, and said tubular member having means engaging said cam surfacewhen force is applied longitudinally of said tubular member therebymoving said boltvmember against the action of said spring fordisengaging said latch from a cooperating recess of another part.

10. A latching device comprising an apertured cylindrical casing part,an elongated tubular member extending transversely through said casingand having means preventing easy withdrawal thereof, said tubular memberhaving slots on opposite sides thereof in alignment with the bore ofsaid casing, a spring-actuated slidable bolt member disposed within saidcasing and extending through the slots of said tubular member,

cam surface when force is applied longitudinally of said tubular membervthereby moving said bolt member against the action of said spring fordisengaging said latch from a cooperating recess of another part.

tubular member extending through said door and said casing transverselyof said last-mentioned parts so that the free ends of said tubularmember may be normally disposed outside opposite faces rof said door, asleeve disposed within one of said ends and adapted to be movedlongitudinally thereof for engaging with said slidable member to preventan unlatching thereof, and handles adapted to be disposed outsideopposed faces of said door, each of said handles having one end securedto opposite respective ends of said tubular member and the other endadapted to be secured to said door, the free end of one of said handlesbeing in engagement with said sleeve whereby said sleeve is moved out ofengagement with said slidable member when force is applied vto saidhandle in the longitudinal direction of said tubular member.

HOWARD J. MURPHY.

